By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, January 18, 2020
Entering his 21st consecutive Australian Open without a warm-up match, Roger Federer says his expectations are "quite low" for the season's first Grand Slam.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
Playing 1,507 career matches, Roger Federer knows all about the highs and lows of tournament play.
Though the 38-year-old Swiss has raised the Australian Open title trophy in two of the last three years, Federer says lack of match play put his expectations "quite low." for this Australian Open.
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Entering his 21st consecutive Australian Open without a Tour-level match since bowing to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals of the ATP Finals last November, Federer is eager to shed the rust of inactivity.
That's why the third-seeded Federer believes it's imperative for a fast start against American Steve Johnson in his opener on Monday afternoon.
"I've got to really make sure I get out of the gates quick," Federer said in his pre-tournament presser. "Practice has been going well. Had plenty of time to pace myself and do all the things I had to do to get ready. I hope it's enough. My expectations are quite low."
Federer, who played a South American exhibition tour vs. Alexander Zverev after the ATP Finals, opted out of the inaugural ATP Cup earlier this week.
The six-time champion is in the bottom half of the draw along with defending champion Novak Djokovic. If seeds hold true to form, Federer would face the second-seeded Serbian in a semifinal rematch of the Wimbledon final.
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, who was runner-up to Djokovic in the 2019 final, can equal Federer's record of 20 Grand Slam championships by winning his first Melbourne title since 2009.
Earlier in the week, Federer told the Associated Press he's come to terms with the fact his record will eventually be exceeded. Sixteen-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic and Nadal split the major spoils in 2019 with Djokovic denying championship points to topple Federer in an epic Wimbledon final.
"I think the way it's going, obviously, Rafa and Novak will win more," Federer told the AP. "Because they're that good. And the season they had, again, shows that there is more to come from them....
"I guess you do care, to some extent, because it's normal."